STRATFORD.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 April 1920, Page 6

STRATFORD.

(From Our Own CorresDondent.) (All communications, letters, etc., left with Mr. H. J. Hopkins, bookseller, will receiva Vi'umpt intention.) DISTURBANCES AT DOUGLAS DANCE. April lj. At a concert and dance held at Douglas on March a '"mix tip' took place between Hie young moil of Douglas mul the neighboring district of Strathmure, and the disturbance became no bad that tiie services of the police had' I" be requisitioned. As a result, tlie following young men, residents of Strathmore, appeared at the Stratford Magistrate'* Court to-day, before Messrs. C. D. iSolc, J .p., and J. Masters, ,l.l'„ .charged with disturbing the concert and dance, assault and using obscene language: Con Coulton, laborer, Thomas Wortliington, Thomas Kerrison, Lester Hodgson, Caral Coulton, Leonard Brown. Mr. A. Coleman appeared for all defendants, with the exception of Hodgson (who admitted using obscene language) and Caral Coulter (who admitted fighting and using obscene language). Con Coulton pleaded guilty to using obscene language, but not guilty to fighting McConville and Needham, and Kerrison, who admitted assaulting Roberts.

Mr. L. 31. Moj£ watched proceeding!; on behalf of the Douglas Hall Board. Sergeant Dale conducted the prosecution for the police. Sergt. Dale said that some time before the concert it was known in Douglas that tlio iStrathmore young men intended going to Douglas to make a disturbance. This showed premeditation. The young fellows arrived there in a motor lorry with a keg of beer, and during the evening a member of the committee of the dance took exception to the behaviour of some of the Strathmore boys, on acount of their smoking in and about the hall, and demanding supper in a rowdy manner. Later, blows were struck, and from then on to the finish it was a general melee, and the obscene language could be heard 200 yards away. He asked that the full penalty should be inflicted, as such conduct could not be tolerated.

For the defence, Mr. Coleman said that the iirst incident in connection with the disturbance was when Mr. Harold Schweiters, the MC., approached Hodgson,' who was smoking in the doorway, and remonstrated with him in an offensive manner. The Strathmore boys took umbrage at this, but nothing more happened just then. Schweiters again remonstrated with some of th<! defendants for smoking, and this caused a little argument. Another factor in the row was that the Strathmore boys did not think the supper arrangements were being carried out fairly, and complained of their treatment. This led to the first fight, and counsel claimed that one of

■.the Stratmore boys was struck first, and he naturally retaliated, a general mix-up following in (lie supper room. Regarding the olisceue language, counsel submitted that it was used as the result of, provocation. He asked tlu> Bench to take a lenient and as merciful a view as they could possibly do. A large amount of evidence was given for the prosecution and the defence. At 5 p.m. the case was adjourned until 10 a.m. the following day.

Now is the time for motorists to prepare for comfortable and cosy travelling during the winter months, by having the hoods of their cars seen to. C. D. Matthews, Page Street, Stratford, carries full stocks of the 'best materials for hoods, and will guarantee t-lie best workmanship at the lowest possible price.